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HAVERHILL, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Ahead of the 2026-2027 school year, Haverhill just put a new rule in place for young E-bike and scooter riders.
The City’s School Committee decided to ban e-bikes, motorized scooters, electric skateboards, hoverboards, and similar devices from school grounds.
The policy comes as safety concerns continue to grow surrounding young riders. Haverhill Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Margaret Marotta said these plans keep those young riders in mind.
“This summer, one of our students was killed on an electric scooter in Haverhill. I think that was just the tragedy that really pushed the community over the edge,” said Dr. Marotta.
“Nobody is supposed to ride them on the sidewalk. By law, they’re supposed to be in the street. We have kids as young as 10, 11, 12 years old on these devices, and they don’t understand the rules of the road. Their brains really aren’t developed enough to make those split-second decisions to keep themselves safe.”
Dr. Marotta said City Officials are also looking into a possible ordinance regarding these electric devices.
“The number of devices in our schools, and I don’t just mean the high school, I mean the middle schools, even the elementary schools, has just exploded,” said Dr. Marotta.
Devices excluded from the ban include powered mobility aids for those with disabilities and anything motorized that requires a license to operate.
WBZ NewsRadio's Shari Small (@ShariSmallNews) reports.